I love the monster creation system in your book. I had an amazing time creating rival monsters contesting a sprawling cave complex: magic-resistant shark-like brutes who will mindlessly attack their own reflection, vs. snake-goblins who can turn near-invisible unless they get wet. I would never have thought of these on my own but it just took a few minutes to flesh out these prompts.
I for one, look forward to implementing the patented Shadowdark "Can this monster beat up an elephant" method of encounter balance. Call me old-fashioned, but if it ain't got bones, it ain't a demon, it's a marinaded fiend nugget. And you're supposed to eat them bleu cheese, not ranch dressing. They shouldn't even sell them at Demon Stop.
That has to be one of the best walk-throughs for monster creation I've ever seen. Thank you. And yes, I'm a proud backer of Shadowdark. Can't wait for the physical copy. Well done!
"Cartilage deforms more than bone so he can, with time, work his way through spaces that in human scale would be little bigger than a letterbox mouth, about the size (relative to you) of an A4 book. ... He will eat you, chewing well, equipment and all, to get you out of the way. He could come into your house though the front door. He could slowly squeeze his body up your stairs, filling the stairwell with his flesh, then send one questing hand through your bedroom door. He could squeeze his head into your room and look at you." - Patrick Stuart; Deep Carbon Observatory
I love watching these videos from you. Everyone I see talk about Shadowdark talks about the torch mechanic. Which is great, don’t take me wrong. But holy crap seeing you go in depth on this stuff shows me the torch mechanic is just the tip of the iceberg.
When I've created demons in the past I've always included some sort of quirk. Mostly some sort OCD trait or intellectual vanity. It gives a demon more to play other than a horrific otherworld creature. And they are fun to play. Love that you included it in your creation. Well done.
Thanks Kelsey, great video! For your “Bind” power I mistakenly read it as “Blind.” I thought, how cool, a vain demon who could not look in mirror to see he was a pile of jelly, lol! Excited for my books to arrive!
Thanks for doing this! I'm working to publish some Shadowdark Adventures. I'm still building a following for my channel, but I figured selling adventurers would expand the brand.
Yes, this! This right here is super useful. Im so happy you did this. It's great to get your perspective on how ShadowDark works. Thank you! Looking forward to the next one.
Why do these sound like appetizers? What is next twice baked elementals? Stuffed Djinnis? Infernal Fried Cocktrice? Frozen Chocolate Puddings on a stick?
I almost could imagine the lash demon being something akin to the regeneradors from RE4. Lumpy, mishapen, like an octopus pretending to be a human as it's limbs stretch outwards. Given how vile that image is in my head, I find it's vanity being a weakness to be rather interesting. I wonder if you could get it to go away by showing it's reflection to it, make it realize how horrible it looks?
Think the best 'monster' I ever came up with was a huge out-of control mechanical orrery which the PCs had to figure out how to deactivate while avoiding the special effects of the planets (in my 'Sunken Village of Little Corth' on the DM's Guild). Looking forward to writing an adventure for Shadowdark and your monster-building guidance here really appreciated.
😭no fair taunting us with that beautiful book. Great video though! Currently satisfied with the monsters in the book for now but i am interested in making some new ones now
0:52 I'm a little sad that D&D abandoned use of d6s for handling monster HP in favour of d8s so early on. I'm pretty sure most people have buckets of d6s lying around (I know I have) but hardly any d8s. 3:22 judging monsters next to real life animals is an excellent idea! I've only heard that before in Mausritter, when the author pointed out that while it's hard to imagine how dangerous a dragon truly is, it's very easy to imagine how dangerous a cat is to a mouse. I figure a bear is probably a good solid enemy that should be a near deadly threat to most regular characters.
My idea for the boneless demon would be that they are a firmer human who sold his soul to save his family but tricked in the deal and cursed that bones disintegrate morphing into a blob creature and hates himself and everyone...goes into a rage when it sees itself in a mirror and likes living in the dark
Hey Kelsey, I have a question for you. Is this Shadow dark always dark? Meaning when the party travels from hex to hex out in broad daylight (if there is such a thing), do they need torches lit or is it strictly when they are in dungeons? I haven't been tracking torch capacity in areas when they're outside traveling overland due to I would think the sun would be out but I'm not sure of the world and if natural light occurs from a spacial source. Thanks!
A good question! The game world has natural light and plenty of lit spaces. The Shadowdark is just another word for the underworld or dangerous adventuring sites that may happen to be above ground, like a monster-filled castle!
I was picturing a fleshy puddle occupied with stretching itself over “beautiful shapes” that gave it internal structure: creatures, objects, whatever, being boneless but not a strict shapeshifter, perhaps to out-compete its kin in “fashionable forms”. Perhaps it would reward a party that offered it choice shapes to stretch around...
Like a sapient, malicious feather boa, except instead of feathers, it’s covered in foul-smelling rubbery gloop, and it has a single malefic cats-eye, rimmed with fire, and an eel’s mouth ringed with six rows of teeth.
So I just have the QuickStart guide since I can't afford the actual book just yet, is there anywhere I can get a blank fillable monster stat block sheet? I don't think it's anywhere on there, but I wasn't sure if it's something that came with the actual book or not
How did you generate the str., Dex., con., etc . From i just say you placing the modifiers. I don't want to just grab random numbers and i didn't design the game so where does one get those numbers
I just used a tweaked version of some of my layout documents for the Shadowdark books... But some great publishers have made template files for Shadowdark material, like this one! sersavictory.itch.io/shadowdark-rpg-affinity-publisher-template
The PDFs are up right now on the arcane library's webstore, but the physical books will probably be available in October if all things remain on track! :)
@@TheArcaneLibrary I was able to back the digital copy but not the physical because of money issues. Now O have the money, buy can't change my pledge. lol So I'll just wait for October. Thanks, Kelsey!!
@@f.a.santiago1053 Oh dang! I can help you change your pledge if you want to (no pressure), we have admin powers to alter locked pledges. Email me at kelsey@thearcanelibrary.com with the details if you want me to do that!
Not yet! I've been working to get that geared up and had the lucky opportunity to meet Trevor Devall in person recently (of the Me, Myself, and Die UA-cam channel), who gave me a lot of ideas to chew on. Stay tuned -- updates on it soon!
They take a while to write! 😅 But I have been seeing your thoughts on wanting a "Keep on the Borderlands" style adventure, and that's what I'm aiming for. :)
I love the monster creation system in your book. I had an amazing time creating rival monsters contesting a sprawling cave complex: magic-resistant shark-like brutes who will mindlessly attack their own reflection, vs. snake-goblins who can turn near-invisible unless they get wet. I would never have thought of these on my own but it just took a few minutes to flesh out these prompts.
I for one, look forward to implementing the patented Shadowdark "Can this monster beat up an elephant" method of encounter balance.
Call me old-fashioned, but if it ain't got bones, it ain't a demon, it's a marinaded fiend nugget. And you're supposed to eat them bleu cheese, not ranch dressing. They shouldn't even sell them at Demon Stop.
"Marinated fiend nugget" is my new favorite descriptor! 🤣
The Demon Lord Jubilex has entered the chat
Kelsey, you are so freakin' good at making TTRPGs accessible and appealing.
Aw, shucks! :) Thank you very much for saying that!
@TheArcaneLibrary Well deserved after so much hard work. You are the Bob Ross of TTRPGs lol
19:17 I love the way English blends sounds sometimes, I saved my copy of the PDF as "Cool Ass Demon.pdf"
Hahahahaaa! I love it! :D
So throwing together a monster from the various tables could be called .. a monster mash?
Yes! Hahahaha!
A graveyard smash
First boneless chicken wings and now boneless demon claws! All red, oily, and very spicy. I like it! But bones would've been preferred.
Nashville hot boneless demon!
That has to be one of the best walk-throughs for monster creation I've ever seen. Thank you. And yes, I'm a proud backer of Shadowdark. Can't wait for the physical copy. Well done!
Listening to this while at the gym. ShadowDark is invading every area of my life. 😅 Enjoying DMing it much more than D&D 5e.
"Cartilage deforms more than bone so
he can, with time, work his way through
spaces that in human scale would be little
bigger than a letterbox mouth, about the
size (relative to you) of an A4 book.
...
He will eat you, chewing well, equipment
and all, to get you out of the way.
He could come into your house though the
front door.
He could slowly squeeze his body up your
stairs, filling the stairwell with his flesh,
then send one questing hand through your
bedroom door. He could squeeze his head
into your room and look at you." - Patrick Stuart; Deep Carbon Observatory
Awesome monster! A lot of cool, not to mention frightening possibilities. I'm looking forward to using it. Thank you.
"Sure, you could fit under a door, but could you fit within my water skin (which I conveniently have empty and uncorked)?
Hahahahaha, amazing!!
Thanks for the amazing content! I'll be launching my RPG channel soon and I'll be starting with a Shadowdark Campaign, I love your work keep it up!
subscribed and waiting for your content.
Thanks! Yeah I'm excited to start. Should be in September. :)@@nosotrosloslobosestamosreg4115
I love watching these videos from you. Everyone I see talk about Shadowdark talks about the torch mechanic. Which is great, don’t take me wrong. But holy crap seeing you go in depth on this stuff shows me the torch mechanic is just the tip of the iceberg.
When I've created demons in the past I've always included some sort of quirk. Mostly some sort OCD trait or intellectual vanity. It gives a demon more to play other than a horrific otherworld creature. And they are fun to play. Love that you included it in your creation. Well done.
Very helpful and informative. I wish there was a way I could download the template for making my own monster stat blocks.
Using irl animals as a reference is such a cool idea.
I've got a theory that it's a demon! A stealthy demon? No something isn't right there...
Thanks Kelsey, great video! For your “Bind” power I mistakenly read it as “Blind.” I thought, how cool, a vain demon who could not look in mirror to see he was a pile of jelly, lol!
Excited for my books to arrive!
Thanks for doing this! I'm working to publish some Shadowdark Adventures. I'm still building a following for my channel, but I figured selling adventurers would expand the brand.
I love your CHART SUPPORTS! Great Job!!
Yes, this! This right here is super useful. Im so happy you did this. It's great to get your perspective on how ShadowDark works. Thank you! Looking forward to the next one.
Why do these sound like appetizers? What is next twice baked elementals? Stuffed Djinnis? Infernal Fried Cocktrice? Frozen Chocolate Puddings on a stick?
Hahahahaaaa! I am particular to bacon-wrapped stingbat bites!
Is that a print master? Production copy? Cool!
Yay, would love to see more monster creation videos, this was very interesting and useful!
I almost could imagine the lash demon being something akin to the regeneradors from RE4. Lumpy, mishapen, like an octopus pretending to be a human as it's limbs stretch outwards. Given how vile that image is in my head, I find it's vanity being a weakness to be rather interesting. I wonder if you could get it to go away by showing it's reflection to it, make it realize how horrible it looks?
Awesome as usual, many thanks for this!
Loving your content for your game, Shadowdark! Having your views and suggestions for the Shadowdark community is always welcome and a boon. [bows]
Love it! Thanks for sharing your insight Kelsey!
Think the best 'monster' I ever came up with was a huge out-of control mechanical orrery which the PCs had to figure out how to deactivate while avoiding the special effects of the planets (in my 'Sunken Village of Little Corth' on the DM's Guild). Looking forward to writing an adventure for Shadowdark and your monster-building guidance here really appreciated.
Loved it, Kelsey! Can't wait to throw a Lash Demon at my players!!
Nice animation at the end.
😭no fair taunting us with that beautiful book.
Great video though! Currently satisfied with the monsters in the book for now but i am interested in making some new ones now
0:52 I'm a little sad that D&D abandoned use of d6s for handling monster HP in favour of d8s so early on. I'm pretty sure most people have buckets of d6s lying around (I know I have) but hardly any d8s. 3:22 judging monsters next to real life animals is an excellent idea! I've only heard that before in Mausritter, when the author pointed out that while it's hard to imagine how dangerous a dragon truly is, it's very easy to imagine how dangerous a cat is to a mouse. I figure a bear is probably a good solid enemy that should be a near deadly threat to most regular characters.
🐘🐘🐘 The Colonel Hathi Principle
My idea for the boneless demon would be that they are a firmer human who sold his soul to save his family but tricked in the deal and cursed that bones disintegrate morphing into a blob creature and hates himself and everyone...goes into a rage when it sees itself in a mirror and likes living in the dark
Hey Kelsey, I have a question for you. Is this Shadow dark always dark? Meaning when the party travels from hex to hex out in broad daylight (if there is such a thing), do they need torches lit or is it strictly when they are in dungeons? I haven't been tracking torch capacity in areas when they're outside traveling overland due to I would think the sun would be out but I'm not sure of the world and if natural light occurs from a spacial source. Thanks!
A good question! The game world has natural light and plenty of lit spaces. The Shadowdark is just another word for the underworld or dangerous adventuring sites that may happen to be above ground, like a monster-filled castle!
Perfect and that was my understanding of it. Thank you so much. @@TheArcaneLibrary
I was picturing a fleshy puddle occupied with stretching itself over “beautiful shapes” that gave it internal structure: creatures, objects, whatever, being boneless but not a strict shapeshifter, perhaps to out-compete its kin in “fashionable forms”. Perhaps it would reward a party that offered it choice shapes to stretch around...
Like a sapient, malicious feather boa, except instead of feathers, it’s covered in foul-smelling rubbery gloop, and it has a single malefic cats-eye, rimmed with fire, and an eel’s mouth ringed with six rows of teeth.
Oh, nice and useful 💜💜
So I just have the QuickStart guide since I can't afford the actual book just yet, is there anywhere I can get a blank fillable monster stat block sheet? I don't think it's anywhere on there, but I wasn't sure if it's something that came with the actual book or not
This was very helpful
Is there a editable pdf for monster creation like the one she is using?
How did you generate the str., Dex., con., etc . From i just say you placing the modifiers. I don't want to just grab random numbers and i didn't design the game so where does one get those numbers
Where do you get the blank monster sheet? I backed the book but don’t think I’ve seen that document
I just used a tweaked version of some of my layout documents for the Shadowdark books... But some great publishers have made template files for Shadowdark material, like this one! sersavictory.itch.io/shadowdark-rpg-affinity-publisher-template
@@TheArcaneLibrarythank you very helpful
I like it simple and useful
I want to be a lash demon when I grow up!
How do you use the “size”? Can it be counted as homebrew?
Any idea on when the printed book will be available for purchase?
The PDFs are up right now on the arcane library's webstore, but the physical books will probably be available in October if all things remain on track! :)
@@TheArcaneLibrary I was able to back the digital copy but not the physical because of money issues. Now O have the money, buy can't change my pledge. lol So I'll just wait for October.
Thanks, Kelsey!!
@@f.a.santiago1053 Oh dang! I can help you change your pledge if you want to (no pressure), we have admin powers to alter locked pledges. Email me at kelsey@thearcanelibrary.com with the details if you want me to do that!
@@TheArcaneLibrary admin powers for the win!!
Very cool!
Moar Monsters!
I really cannot wait to start with the books and zines. Btw, did I miss the solo campaign that you wanted to start?:) Or is it planned?
Not yet! I've been working to get that geared up and had the lucky opportunity to meet Trevor Devall in person recently (of the Me, Myself, and Die UA-cam channel), who gave me a lot of ideas to chew on. Stay tuned -- updates on it soon!
@@TheArcaneLibraryVery nice
Very cool.
Demons are all about bones. Definitely heresy we're seeing here.
Instantly thought of that x-files episode. IFYKYK
Was that Toombs?
I need this template you use here for me monstahs.
Kelsey, I love you❤
Hahaha, thank you! :)
Give us a module kelsey, pls
They take a while to write! 😅 But I have been seeing your thoughts on wanting a "Keep on the Borderlands" style adventure, and that's what I'm aiming for. :)
Anyone know when the shadow dark books will be shipped?
Current date (which hasn't changed in a while now) is October! :)
@@TheArcaneLibrary thanks!
I like it, but it's pretty much a mimic.